Ghanaians in UK brace themselves for another round of protests

Ghanaians living in the United Kingdom (UK) are bracing themselves for another round of the protests that have rocked the UK in the last few days.

Currently, Ghanaians in the affected parts of the country are stranded and unable to leave their homes for fear of being attacked in the xenophobic attacks against blacks.

Over the past week, these protests have become increasingly volatile, with some demonstrators resorting to violent actions, including setting ablaze hotel buildings where asylum seekers are being housed.

Protests first broke out late last month after an anti-immigrant misinformation campaign stoked outrage following a stabbing attack which left three children dead in Southport, northern England.

The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said on Tuesday that prosecutors have already charged around 100 people over the violent unrest.

The gatherings ostensibly started as anti-immigration marches and quickly turned disorderly and violent.

Speaking to JoyNews, some Ghanaian residents living in the UK said the development has left them tramautised.

“We are scared because of the current protests happening here in the UK. We have warned our kids not to go out because we have been told the protesters are heading to South-west London where we stay,” a parent said.

Another student stressed that; “I cannot go out because I don’t know what will happen on my way back or on my way to school because I may be alone.”

Meanwhile, a Ghanaian journalist in the UK, Kofi Richie has told JoyNews reports suggest that the attack is expected to intensify in London today, Wednesday.

“What we have done as the media is that we have worded a few combined messages and sent them viral based on the intelligence that was made available to us that Wednesday, 7th of August, there will be a serious demonstration in London.”

On his part, International Relations Expert, Dr Ishmael Hlovor called on government to issue security alert to the stranded Ghanaians in the UK

“As an Embassy, you have to send signals to your citizens wherever they are. How you are encouraging them to stay indoors and avoid certain areas that have been targeted by these white supremacists.

“We are expecting that if they have the contact of some Ghanaians in that territory, they would have sent messages to them, cautioning them about what they should do in case of coming under attack and cautioning them not to be seen in areas where protestors are gathered.”

source: myjoyonline.com